断奶仔猪源大肠杆菌LEE及HPI毒力岛的检测

应用Duplex_PCR方法,对240株断奶仔猪源大肠杆菌分离株的LEE毒力岛的eaeA基因和耶尔森菌强毒力岛核心区的irp2基因进行了检测,并对HPI毒力岛的fyuA基因及其在大肠杆菌染色体中的插入位置进行了分析,以及随机选取部分PCR产物进行了克隆和序列分析。结果表明:其中29株(12.08%)为LEE HPI ,39株(16.25%)为LEE ,11株(4.58%)为HPI ;另外还发现:不同病例来源的分离株之间,两种毒力岛的携带率不同;在断奶仔猪腹泻源分离株中,29株(20.71%)为LEE HPI ,22株(15.71%)为LEE ,9株(6.43%)为HPI ;断奶仔猪水肿病源分离株中,仅5株(6.58%)为LEE ,2株(2.63%)为HPI ,未发现LEE HPI 菌株;断奶仔猪水肿病并发腹泻源分离株中,仅12株(50%)为LEE ,未发现HPI 及LEE HPI 菌株。本实验克隆的eaeA(425bp)与已发表序列完全一致,irp2(280bp)f、yuA(948bp)、asn_tRNA_intB(1391bp)均与已发表的序列高度同源,同源性分别在98.2%、98.3%、95.8%以上;40株LEE HPI 或HPI 分离株中,29株(72.5%)为fyuA ,且其HPI毒力岛位于大肠杆菌染色体asn_tRNA位点。     

猪源大肠杆菌F18菌毛的体外表达和抗原特性

摘要:【目的】揭示从仔猪腹泻和/或水肿病猪体内分离到的fedA + 大肠杆菌所携带的毒力因子、F18菌毛在体外表达及其抗原变异情况。【方法】利用凝集试验测定O 血清型,PCR方法检测毒力基因,单克隆抗体分析F18菌毛抗原特性。【结果】在75个fedA + 分离株中,有62株测定出其O血清型,覆盖8种血清型,以O107和O139为主(74.2%) ;estI、estII、elt、stx-2e、astA、orfA、irp2、fyuA、ler和eaeA基因在这75个菌株中的检出率分别为64.0%、46.7%、28.0%、62.7%、26.7%、9.3%、9.3%、9.3%、1.3%和1.3%,其中仅拥有stx-2e基因的菌株有19株,同时拥有estI/estII/stx-2e基因的菌株有20株。单抗鉴定结果显示,在33株体外表达F18菌毛的菌株中,21株(63.6%)被鉴定为F18ac变体,2株(6.1%) 被鉴定为F18ab变体,其余10株(30.3%)仅跟F18“a”因子单抗反应,而不跟F18“b”、“c”因子单抗反应。间接ELISA显示,11株单抗至 少识别F18菌毛的6个表位,其中“a”因子至少有3个表位,“b”因子至少有2个表位,“c”因子至少有1个表位。【结论】在猪源菌株中,F18ab菌毛在体外表达率较低;F18ac菌毛在体外表达率较高,主要与肠毒素和O107血清型相关,同时我国存在F18菌毛的抗原变异。     

猪源大肠杆菌F18菌毛的体外表达和抗原特性

【目的】揭示从仔猪腹泻和/或水肿病猪体内分离到的fedA+大肠杆菌所携带的毒力因子、F18菌毛在体外表达及其抗原变异情况。【方法】利用凝集试验测定O血清型,PCR方法检测毒力基因,单克隆抗体分析F18菌毛抗原特性。【结果】在75个fedA+分离株中,有62株测定出其O血清型,覆盖8种血清型,以O107和O139为主(74.2%);estI、estII、elt、stx-2e、astA、orfA、irp2、fyuA、ler和eaeA基因在这75个菌株中的检出率分别为64.0%、46.7%、28.0%、62.7%、26.7%、9.3%、9.3%、9.3%、1.3%和1.3%,其中仅拥有stx-2e基因的菌株有19株,同时拥有estI/estII/stx-2e基因的菌株有20株。单抗鉴定结果显示,在33株体外表达F18菌毛的菌株中,21株(63.6%)被鉴定为F18ac变体,2株(6.1%)被鉴定为F18ab变体,其余10株(30.3%)仅跟F18"a"因子单抗反应,而不跟F18"b"、"c"因子单抗反应。间接ELISA显示,11株单抗至少识别F18菌毛的6个表位,其中"a"因子至少有3个表位,"b"因子至少有2个表位,"c"因子至少有1个表位。【结论】在猪源菌株中,F18ab菌毛在体外表达率较低;F18ac菌毛在体外表达率较高,主要与肠毒素和O107血清型相关,同时我国存在F18菌毛的抗原变异。     

新城疫分离毒HN蛋白的抗原性初步分析及分子特性研究

运用针对NDV囊膜糖蛋白(HN)的单克隆抗体(MAbs),对2005～2006年间自我国江苏和广西部分地区的20株NDV分离株进行排谱试验,初步分析了不同毒株之间HN蛋白的抗原表位差异;并应用RT-PCR技术成功扩增了其HN基因整个编码区,经克隆、测序最终获得13株鸡源NDV与7株鹅源NDV HN基因的编码区序列,分析测定核苷酸序列及推导的氨基酸序列,并将鹅源NDV与鸡源NDV相应序列进行了比较.结果单抗排谱试验表明,20株NDV分离株之间HN蛋白的抗原表位存在差异;测序结果表明,测定的HN基因的编码区长度皆为1716nt编码571个氨基酸;分离株中18株基因Ⅶ型NDV分离株之间HN基因编码区核苷酸序列具有较高的同源性,达94.8%～100%;与近几年国内流行的其它基因Ⅶ型NDV之间的核苷酸序列同源性为92.1%～99.6%.对其推导的HN蛋白一级结构中潜在的糖基化位点及HN蛋白细胞受体结合相关区域的氨基酸序列等进行了比较分析.结果显示,单抗排谱差异显著株在部分氨基酸位点发生了突变;同时揭示我国部分地区同期流行的鹅源NDV与鸡源NDV HN基因之间具有较近的亲缘关系.     

猪源大肠杆菌(ETEC、STEC、AEEC)毒力基因及其与O抗原型的关系

[目的]揭示从我国部分地区仔猪腹泻或水肿病病猪体内分离到的300个大肠杆菌分离株所属病原型(pathotype)、毒力基因及其与O血清型的关系.[方法]O血清型采用常规的凝集试验进行测定,毒力基因采用PCR方法检测.[结果]通过对这300个分离株的O血清型及其毒素、紧密素和黏附素基因进行鉴定,结果显示除50株未定型、17株自凝外,测定出233个分离株的血清型,这些分离株覆盖了45个血清型,其中以0149、0107、0139、093和091为主,共133株,占定型菌株的57.1%;拥有est Ⅰ、estⅡ、elt、stx2e和eae A基因的菌株分别为102(34.0%)、190(63.3%)、81(27.0%)、57(19.0%)和54(18.0%)株;分离株中有51株K88基因阳性(其中菌毛表达率为100%),75株F18基因阳性(其中菌毛表达率为50.7%),在K88菌株中,0149血清型与est Ⅰ或estⅡ elt密切相关,在F18菌株中,0107血清型与est Ⅰ或estⅡ、0139血清型与stx2e紧密相关.依其毒力特征可将这些分离株分为以下6种类型:ETEC、STEC、AEEC、ETEC/STEC、AEEC/ETEC和AEEC/ETEC/STEC,分别拥有190、24、36、32、17和1个菌株,占分离株的63.3%、8.0%、12.0%、10.7%、5.7%和0.3%.通过分析这些分离株的O血清型、毒素类型和黏附素型之间的相关性:猪源ETEC以0149、0107、093和098等血清型为主,0149:K88菌株主要与estⅡ或estⅡ elt肠毒素相关,0107:F18菌株主要与estⅡ相关,093和098血清型菌株主要与estⅡ肠毒素相关;STEC菌株以0139:F18血清型为主,拥有stx2e;AEEC菌株拥有紧密素,无明显优势血清型;ETEC/STEC菌株以0107:F18和0116:F18血清型为主,主要与est Ⅰ stx2e或estⅡ stx2e密切相关,ETEC/AEEC菌株以091和0107血清型为主,全部拥有肠毒素est Ⅰ和紧密素基因.[结论]我国至少存在6种病原型的猪肠道致病性大肠杆菌,其中ETEC为我国部分地区猪大肠杆菌病的主要病原,同时其病原型日益复杂.     

新城疫分离毒HN蛋白的抗原性初步分析及分子特性研究

运用针对NDV囊膜糖蛋白(HN)的单克隆抗体(MAbs), 对2005~2006年间自我国江苏和广西部分地区的20株NDV分离株进行排谱试验, 初步分析了不同毒株之间HN蛋白的抗原表位差异; 并应用RT-PCR技术成功扩增了其HN基因整个编码区, 经克隆、测序最终获得13株鸡源NDV与7株鹅源NDV HN基因的编码区序列, 分析测定核苷酸序列及推导的氨基酸序列, 并将 鹅源NDV与鸡源NDV相应序列进行了比较。结果单抗排谱试验表明, 20株NDV分离株之间 HN蛋白的抗原表位存在差异; 测序结果表明, 测定的HN基因的编码区长度皆为1716nt编码571个氨基酸; 分离株中18株基因Ⅶ型NDV分离株之间HN基因编码区核苷酸序列具有较高的同 源性,达94.8%~100%; 与近几年国内流行的其它基因Ⅶ型NDV之间的核苷酸序列同源性 为92.1%~99.6%。对其推导的HN蛋白一级结构中潜在的糖基化位点及HN蛋白细胞受体结合相关区域的氨基酸序列等进行了比较分析。结果显示, 单抗排谱差异显著株在部分氨基酸位点发生了突变; 同时揭示我国部分地区同期流行的鹅源NDV与鸡源NDV HN基因之间具有较近的亲缘关系。     

华东地区致初生仔猪腹泻大肠杆菌的O血清型和毒力因子

从江苏、江西、安徽等7个省疑似黄、白痢直肠棉拭及病死猪的十二指肠和肠系膜淋巴结中分离鉴定出339株病原性大肠杆菌。经O血清型鉴定,除77株未能定型、41株自凝外,测定出221个分离株的O血清型,这些分离株覆盖了64个血清型,以O107、O101、O20、O93、O11和O149为主,共99株,占定型菌株的44.80%。这些血清型与已报道的常见血清型间存在一定差异。运用黏附素单抗对以上菌株进行F4、F5、F6、F18、F41　5种黏附素检测,共97个分离株表达黏附素(28061%),而表达两种和3种黏附素的菌株分别有22株和8株,它们分别占表达黏附素菌株的22.68%和8.25%,其中单独表达F4、F6、F5+F41黏附素菌株分别有18、30、15株,分别占表达黏附素菌株的18.56%、30.93%和15.46%;同时运用多重PCR对其中145个分离株进行毒素基因(Sta、STb、LT、SLT2e)的检测,拥有Sta和STb毒素基因的菌株分别占检测菌株的51.72%和3724%。F6、F4、F5+F41和Sta、STb为该地区致初生仔猪腹泻大肠杆菌常见的毒力因子。     

禽源大肠杆菌耶尔森氏菌强毒力岛核心基因的检测及其irp2和int基因同源性

【目的】为了提高禽源大肠杆菌中耶尔森氏菌强毒力岛(HPI)的检测效率, 了解高分子量铁调节蛋白2基因(irp2)和整合酶基因(int)在不同株禽源HPI+大肠杆菌间的同源性, 进一步揭示禽源大肠杆菌HPI的转移规律。【方法】利用L16(44)正交试验设计, 建立针对HPI核心基因irp2和fyuA的双重PCR, 运用双重PCR方法检测禽源大肠杆菌临床分离株, 并对检出的7株HPI阳性(HPI+)大肠杆菌进行irp2和int基因测序及同源性分析, 同时结合这7株大肠杆菌的ERIC-PCR分析结果, 对比分析int基因的分布特点。【结果】结果显示, 新建立的双重PCR能特异性扩增出HPI核心基因; ERIC-PCR分析显示, HPI+大肠杆菌间差异均大于5%; HPI+大肠杆菌irp2基因高度保守(同源性大于99%), 而int基因虽然都位于asn-tRNA位点, 但基因序列在部分菌株间存在较大差异。【结论】建立了一种可以用于HPI的流行病学调查和实验室诊断的双重PCR方法, 并推测区域外同源重组可能是HPI基因在大肠杆菌间水平转移的主要方式。     

实时荧光定量PCR技术鉴别非O157∶H7大肠杆菌产志贺毒素菌株(STEC)的研究

本文运用实时荧光定量PCR的技术对菌株进行stx1基因、stx2基因、eaeA毒力基因检测;并对stx阳性、eaeA阳性的菌株进行O抗原基因rfbE(O157)、wzx(O26)、wbdI(O111)、ihp1(O145)、wzx(O103)检测。探究了实验室保存的94株非O157:H7大肠杆菌是否存在产志贺毒素菌株(STEC)存在;结果表明94株大肠杆菌中检出3株含有stx基因、12株含有eaeA基因;对stx和eaeA阳性菌株O抗原基因试验,检出2株含有wzx(O26)基;这2株大肠杆菌血清凝集试验结果为阳性。研究结果显示,实时荧光定量PCR技术具有特异性强,灵敏度高等特点,可用于产志贺毒素菌株(STEC)前期筛查。     

2012年上海地区副溶血性弧菌血清分型和毒力基因携带状况研究

为了解2012年上海地区副溶血性弧菌人源株和食源株的优势血清型及其毒力基因携带状况,本研究收集了2012年从上海市15个区(县)腹泻患者和食品监测中分离的副溶血性弧菌株,进行血清分型,并采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测tdh和trh基因。结果显示,854株副溶血性弧菌中,88.1%为血清可分型,89.8%为产毒株。O3∶K6、O4∶K8、O1∶K25、O4∶K68、O4∶K9、O1∶K36、O3∶K29为上海地区可分型人源株的优势血清型(93.8%),其中O3∶K6最多,达56.2%。副溶血性弧菌全部分离株的月份分布显示出聚集趋势,7~8月为高峰期。O4∶K9和O1∶K36血清型菌株的月份分布与其他优势血清型菌株不同,未表现出明显聚集趋势。食源株无明显优势血清型,且与人源株分布不同。人源株产毒株构成(95.6%)高于食源株(5.5%)。人源株优势血清型产毒株构成(99.9%)高于非优势血清型(71.1%)。血清可分型人源株的tdh携带率(97.5%)高于不可分型人源株(67.6%),血清可分型人源株的trh携带率(0.8%)低于不可分型人源株(42.6%)。结果提示,副溶血性弧菌血清型分布与历史数据相比变化较大,血清型与毒力基因携带呈一定程度关联,且人源株与食源株在血清型和毒力基因携带上具有分离现象。因此,在副溶血性弧菌的监测与检测中应充分考虑血清分型和毒力基因的重要性。     

Frequency and distribution of tetracycline resistance genes in genetically diverse, nonselected, and nonclinical Escherichia coli strains isolated from diverse human and animal sources

Nonselected and natural populations of Escherichia coli from 12 animal sources and humans were examined for the presence and types of 14 tetracycline resistance determinants. Of 1,263 unique E. coli isolates from humans, pigs, chickens, turkeys, sheep, cows, goats, cats, dogs, horses, geese, ducks, and deer, 31% were highly resistant to tetracycline. More than 78, 47, and 41% of the E. coli isolates from pigs, chickens, and turkeys were resistant or highly resistant to tetracycline, respectively. Tetracycline MICs for 61, 29, and 29% of E. coli isolates from pig, chickens, and turkeys, respectively, were >/=233 micro g/ml. Muliplex PCR analyses indicated that 97% of these strains contained at least 1 of 14 tetracycline resistance genes [tetA, tetB, tetC, tetD, tetE, tetG, tetK, tetL, tetM, tetO, tetS, tetA(P), tetQ, and tetX] examined. While the most common genes found in these isolates were tetB (63%) and tetA (35%), tetC, tetD, and tetM were also found. E. coli isolates from pigs and chickens were the only strains to have tetM. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of tetM in E. coli.     

The Yersinia high-pathogenicity island in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from polymicrobial infections

We examined 12 pairs of strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from mixed infections in human for the presence of the Yersinia high-pathogenicity island (HPI). In one case both isolates carried the HPI, whereas in 11 cases one strain of the pair was HPI-positive. Although there were differences in the organization of the Yersinia HPI, all HPI-positive isolates were able to produce yersiniabactin. The presence of the Yersinia HPI may enhance the capability of strains involved in mixed infections to replicate in iron-deprived conditions in the host.     

Use of repetitive DNA sequences and the PCR To differentiate Escherichia coli isolates from human and animal sources

The rep-PCR DNA fingerprint technique, which uses repetitive intergenic DNA sequences, was investigated as a way to differentiate between human and animal sources of fecal pollution. BOX and REP primers were used to generate DNA fingerprints from Escherichia coli strains isolated from human and animal sources (geese, ducks, cows, pigs, chickens, and sheep). Our initial studies revealed that the DNA fingerprints obtained with the BOX primer were more effective for grouping E. coli strains than the DNA fingerprints obtained with REP primers. The BOX primer DNA fingerprints of 154 E. coli isolates were analyzed by using the Jaccard band-matching algorithm. Jackknife analysis of the resulting similarity coefficients revealed that 100% of the chicken and cow isolates and between 78 and 90% of the human, goose, duck, pig, and sheep isolates were assigned to the correct source groups. A dendrogram constructed by using Jaccard similarity coefficients almost completely separated the human isolates from the nonhuman isolates. Multivariate analysis of variance, a form of discriminant analysis, successfully differentiated the isolates and placed them in the appropriate source groups. Taken together, our results indicate that rep-PCR performed with the BOX A1R primer may be a useful and effective tool for rapidly determining sources of fecal pollution.     

禽病原性大肠杆菌iro和tsh基因缺失株的构建

通过SSH和SCOTS研究, 铁系统(Iro)和温度敏感性血凝素(Tsh)在禽病原性大肠杆菌(APEC)的感染中可能发挥重要作用。基因检测发现, 在243个禽源大肠杆菌分离株中, 有205株为iro+菌株, 其中高、中度和低致病株分别为89.8%(184/205)、8.8%(18/205)和1.5%(3/205); 有167株为tsh+菌株, 高、中度、低致病株分别为87.4%(146/167)、12.6%(21/167)和0%(0/167), 结果显示iro+或tsh+株大多数为高致病株。为了确定iro和tsh基因在APEC致病力中的作用, 以APEC E037株为基础, 通过自杀性载体分别构建了iro和tsh基因缺失突变株E037(Δiro)、E037(Δtsh)和E037(ΔiroΔtsh)。动物感染性试验表明, 突变株在鸡体内的繁殖能力和致病性均明显下降, 但两个基因的协同致病作用不显著。进一步证实Iro和Tsh为APEC重要的致病因子。     

Sample size, library composition, and genotypic diversity among natural populations of Escherichia coli from different animals influence accuracy of determining sources of fecal pollution

A horizontal, fluorophore-enhanced, repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (rep-PCR) DNA fingerprinting technique (HFERP) was developed and evaluated as a means to differentiate human from animal sources of Escherichia coli. Box A1R primers and PCR were used to generate 2,466 rep-PCR and 1,531 HFERP DNA fingerprints from E. coli strains isolated from fecal material from known human and 12 animal sources: dogs, cats, horses, deer, geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys, cows, pigs, goats, and sheep. HFERP DNA fingerprinting reduced within-gel grouping of DNA fingerprints and improved alignment of DNA fingerprints between gels, relative to that achieved using rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting. Jackknife analysis of the complete rep-PCR DNA fingerprint library, done using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, indicated that animal and human isolates were assigned to the correct source groups with an 82.2% average rate of correct classification. However, when only unique isolates were examined, isolates from a single animal having a unique DNA fingerprint, Jackknife analysis showed that isolates were assigned to the correct source groups with a 60.5% average rate of correct classification. The percentages of correctly classified isolates were about 15 and 17% greater for rep-PCR and HFERP, respectively, when analyses were done using the curve-based Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, rather than the band-based Jaccard algorithm. Rarefaction analysis indicated that, despite the relatively large size of the known-source database, genetic diversity in E. coli was very great and is most likely accounting for our inability to correctly classify many environmental E. coli isolates. Our data indicate that removal of duplicate genotypes within DNA fingerprint libraries, increased database size, proper methods of statistical analysis, and correct alignment of band data within and between gels improve the accuracy of microbial source tracking methods.     

Detection of heat-stable and heat-labile enterotoxin genes of Escherichia coli in diarrhoeic faecal samples of mithun (Bos frontalis) calves by polymerase chain reaction

Aims:  To find out the prevalence of different serogroups of Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and to detect heat-stable (ST) and heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin genes of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) from the faeces of mithun calves with diarrhoea.
Methods and Results:  Faecal samples obtained from 65 diarrhoeic mithun calves of under 2 months of age were examined for E. coli using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fifty-four E. coli isolates were obtained from those samples, which belonged to 38 different serogroups. Out of 54 isolates tested by PCR, two isolates (3·70%) belonging to serogroups O26 and O55 were found to possess gene that code for ST enterotoxin and one isolate (1·85%) belonging to serogroup O125 was found to carry LT enterotoxin gene.
Conclusions:  Escherichia coli isolates from diarrhoeic mithun calves were found to possess ST and LT enterotoxin genes, which are designated as ETEC, and these isolates can be detected through PCR using specific primers.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study reports the isolation of ETEC possessing ST and LT enterotoxin genes for the first time and ETEC could be a cause of diarrhoea in mithun calves leading to calf mortality.     

Investigation of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in avian species in India

AIMS: To investigate the presence or absence of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in avian species in India. METHODS AND RESULTS: Faecal samples originating from 500 chicken and 25 free flying pigeons were screened for the presence of E. coli. A total of 426 (chicken, 401; pigeons, 25) E. coli strains were isolated. Of 426 E. coli strains, 387 were grouped into 77 serogroups, while 70 and 59 strains were untypable and rough, respectively. All isolates were subjected to multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR) for the detection of stx(1), stx(2), eaeA, hlyA and saa genes. None of the E. coli strains studied showed the presence of stx(1), stx(2) or their variants and saa genes. Overall 11 (2.74%) and seven (1.74%) strains from chickens possessed eaeA and hlyA genes, respectively, while as only six (1.49%) strains from chickens possessed both eaeA and hlyA genes. O9, O8, O60 and O25 serogroups were most predominant of which there were 24 (5.63%), 23 (5.39%), 23 (5.39%) and 20 (4.69%) strains, respectively. None of the isolates from pigeons showed the presence of any of the virulence genes studied. CONCLUSIONS: STEC are absent in chickens and pigeons. However, further studies are required in this direction to confirm or contradict our findings. E. coli strains originating from birds are carrying a low percentage eaeA or hlyA genes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present study is the first attempt to investigate STEC in chickens and free flying pigeons in India. The chickens and pigeons cannot be considered as important carrier of STEC in India.     

Rapid and sensitive method for detection of Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli in ground beef using the polymerase chain reaction.

A rapid and sensitive method for detection of Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli (SLT-EC) with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is described. Two pairs of oligonucleotide primers homologous to SLTI and SLTII genes, respectively, were used in multiplex PCR assays. The first pair generated a ca. 600-bp PCR product with DNA from all SLTI-producing E. coli tested but not from E. coli strains that produce SLTII or variants of SLTII. The second pair generated a ca. 800-bp PCR product with DNA from E. coli strains that produce SLTII or variants of SLTII but not from SLTI-producing E. coli. When used in combination, the SLTI and SLTII oligonucleotide primers amplified DNA from all of the SLT-EC tested. No PCR products were obtained with SLT primers with DNA from 28 E. coli strains that do not produce SLT or 44 strains of 28 other bacterial species. When ground beef samples were inoculated with SLT-EC strains 319 (O157:H7; SLTI and SLTII), H30 (O26:H11; SLTI), and B2F1/3 (O91:H21; SLTII variants VT2ha and VT2hb) and cultured in modified Trypticase soy broth for 6 h at 42 degrees C, an initial sample inoculum of as few as 1 CFU of these SLT-EC strains per g could be detected in PCR assays with DNA extracted from the broth cultures.